Gombe State Government has inaugurated a state task group on sanitation, in a bid to tackle open defecation.
Performing the task of inaugurating the 29-member task group, the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, decried the high level of open defecation practice in the country, adding “Statistics has shown over 46 million Nigerians still engage in the avoidable act.”
Represented by the Secretary to Government of the State, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, Yahaya said it is in view of global concern about the negative practice that the former President Muhamadu Buhari signed Executive order 009 targeting to end open defecation practice in the country by the year 2025.
He said, “it’s quest to bringing end to open defecation and ensure safe water and environment.”
The Governor added as part of his commitment to ending the practice in the state his administration declared a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector through the Gombe State Executive order 006.
He also revealed that through Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency the state government proposed the upgrade of Local Governments Water Sanitation Units to full fledged departments in addition to training of members of Local Task Group in each LGA to support the State Task Group on Sanitation for the smooth and effective implementation of the program across the State.
Open defecation practice has became common in many communities within the state due to inadequate sanitation facilities stressing the urgency for all hands to be on deck to checkmate the development,” the governor said.
He appealed to the task group members, stakeholders and the entire people of the state to key into the the programme with a view to ending the practice which he said has negative consequences on the lives of the populace especially women and children as well as to achieve Sustainable Development Goal number 6 of the United Nations UN.
In their goodwill messages on behalf of the nine line ministries, Mohammed Saidu Fawu Commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources and his counterpart from Health Dr Habu Dahiru, lauded the initiative describing it as a better way of eradicating infectious diseases such as cholera and other environmental challenges and assured of their ministries readiness to key into the programme.
Also speaking on behalf of the traditional institution, Lamido Akko, Alhaji Umar Atiku, said “the traditional Institution welcomes the initiative as it will go a long way in reducing the outbreak of infectious diseases especially in rural communities.”
Atiku further called for a legislation against open defecation in the State.
Speaking earlier, General Manager of RUWASSA, Engineer Muhammad Sa’eed, lauded the governor for effectively domesticating the programme in the state, assuring that all stakeholders and relevant agencies would work tirelessly to ensure its successful implementation in the state.
Joshua Danmalam, Information Officer SGS’ office, Gombe State.
